Highlights

His remarks came after a report in the French media claimed that Dassault Aviation had to choose Anil Ambani's firm Reliance Defence as its offset partner in India

NEW DELHI: The Congress and BJP on Thursday once again engaged in a war of words over the Rafale deal controversy.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Rafale jet deal inked between India and France is "a clear case of corruption" on part of the Modi government.

His allegations came after a report in the French media claimed that Dassault Aviation, the manufacturer of Rafale, had to choose Anil Ambani's firm Reliance Defence as its offset partner in India as a trade-off for getting the deal.

"Earlier former French President revealed that the Indian Prime Minister had told them that Reliance Defence should get a deal. Now, a senior official of Rafale has said the same. It is a clear-cut case of corruption," said Rahul Gandhi.

Gandhi demanded an investigation against Prime Minister Modi.

Denying the allegations, the BJP accused Rahul Gandhi of mocking national security and said he is trying to build his political career by spreading lies on the Rafale fighter jet deal.

Addressing a press conference, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said, "Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa called the Rafale deal a 'game changer', on the other hand Rahul Gandhi is saying the opposite. Now, people of India will decide whether to believe Dhanoa or Rahul Gandhi."

Hitting out at Gandhi over his allegations that PM Modi is corrupt, Patra said the Congress president himself comes from a family of middlemen. His family earned money from every defence deal that took place before 2014, Patra alleged, adding that Gandhi and his party jeopardised the defence of the country.

Patra further said that if the Congress has substantial proof, why don't they go to the court.

In an interview to a French investigative journal Mediapart, former French President Francois Hollande was quoted as saying that Anil Ambani's firm was selected as the local partner in the deal because its name was proposed by India.

Yesterday, the same journal reported that an internal document of Dassault Aviation revealed that choosing Reliance Defence as its offset partner in India was "a precondition to get the inter-government contract."

Hours later, the jet manufacturer issued a clarification saying that it had "freely chosen to make a partnership with India's Reliance Group".

However, Rahul Gandhi rubbished Dassault's clarification.

"Dassault is sitting on a huge contract. Dassault will say what the Indian government wants it to say. Their internal document clearly stated that the PM said without this compensation the deal will not be done," said Rahul Gandhi.

He further questioned the need of defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman's trip to France where she is due to visit the manufacturing facility of Rafale jets.

"Why has suddenly defence minister rushed to France to Rafale's plant? What is the emergency?"asked the Congress president.

Specifically addressing the youths, among whom PM Narendra Modi enjoys a significant following, Rahul Gandhi said,"I would like to clearly tell the youth of the country that the Prime Minister of India is a corrupt man."

All Comments ()+^ Back to Top

Characters Remaining: 3000

Continue without login

or

Login from existing account

FacebookGoogleEmail

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive. Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.